So I focus on one area where I’ve seen progress: the workouts. No matter how small the lifts seem, they go up with each workout.

Maybe the number of reps increases by one. Or the total lifting weight goes up 10 pounds. It doesn’t matter that I started with 30 measly pounds for the slight incline bench press and can now do 40 pounds. It went up.

The most impressive number to me will seem puny to real lifter, but I’ve gone from 55 pounds for the Yates row to 75 pounds in 2 weeks. I end up sweating, but it is the sweat of glory. And I have not hurt myself in the process.

I can’t do 10 myotatic crunches. Yet. But I’ve gone from five-and-a-half to eight in 2 weeks.

Kettlebell swings kick my ass. But I went from 32 reps of 20 pounds to a full 50 reps, and then to 31 reps of 30 pounds.

Three weeks ago, I had never done any of this.

I go into each workout determined. I want to take that attitude with me to every challenge, whether physical or mental or spiritual.

The important things to remember: I knew I needed around 120 to 125g daily of protein to add muscle mass. And that these aren’t perfect measurements, but they are consistent. So even if the chicken doesn’t have exactly 52.00000g protein, it’s close enough so that in the long run, I’m gaining weight instead of remaining static or losing weight.